Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1996 > Committee on European Affairs > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, 1995 - Second Report

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TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Dara Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Eorpacha

Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 1995

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HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Second Report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs

1995 Annual Report

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July, 1996

Iúil, 1996

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TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Dara Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Eorpacha

Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 1995

___________________________

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Second Report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs

1995 Annual Report

July, 1996

Iúil, 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword by the Chairman, Mr Michael Ferris T.D.

It is my pleasant duty as Chairman of the first Joint Committee on European Affairs to present the 1995 Annual Report of the Joint Committee covering the period from its establishment in March 1995 to the end of the year.

The establishment of the Joint Committee in 1995, distinct from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, reflects the concern of the Oireachtas that matters arising from Irish Membership of the European Union receive appropriate consideration from a special Committee of 17 Members of the Houses. However, no Member is excluded as any Member of either House and all Irish MEPs, including those from Northern Ireland, may attend meetings of the Joint Committee (paragraphs 13 and 14 of the Orders of Reference).

Since the period covered by the Annual Report, a further six months have passed which will be included with the semester of the Irish Presidency of the European Union in the next Annual Report. The six months to date have seen a continuation of the momentum built up by the end of 1995. Suffice to say that the Presidency will make even greater demands on the Joint Committee on whose behalf additional resources have been sought. In thanking Members for their assistance to date, I know I may look forward to their continuing contribution to making this Irish European Union Presidency our most successful to date.

Members of the Joint Committee on European Affairs

Mr David Andrews T.D.

Mr Andrew Boylan T.D.

Mr John Browne T.D. (Carlow-Kilkenny)

Mr Raphael P. Burke T.D.

Mr Noel Davern T.D.

Mr Michael Ferris T.D. (Chairman)

Ms Mary Flaherty T.D.

Mr Seán Haughey T.D.

Mr Derek McDowell T.D.

Mr Desmond J. O’Malley T.D.

Dr Pat Upton T.D.

Senator Michael Calnan

Senator Michael D’Arcy

Senator Dan Kiely

Senator Ann Ormonde

Senator Joe O’Toole

Senator Gerry Reynolds

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

1995 ANNUAL REPORT

i. Introduction

The Joint Committee on European Affairs which was established by Orders of Dáil Éireann on 9 March 1995 and Seanad Éireann on 13 March 1995 is required under Paragraph 10 of its Orders of Reference to make an Annual Report to both Houses of the Oireachtas which shall detail:

(i)the work carried out by the Committee,

(ii)the work in progress by the Committee,

(iii)the attendance and voting records at meetings of the Committee,

(iv)its future work programme, and

(v)such other matters as the Committee deems appropriate.

The Orders of Reference are printed at the end of this Report.

ii. Work carried out by the Committee during 1995

Committee Work

Visits Undertaken by the Joint Committee During 1995

1. Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs of the European Parliament

Brussels 21 - 23 March 1995.

2. Colloquium on a New Role for Parliaments in an Evolving European Union

Athens 8 - 10 September 1995.

3. European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism

Brussels 25 - 26 September 1995.

4. European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens’ Rights

Brussels 27 - 28 September 1995.

5. Meeting of the European Union Interparliamentary Reflection Group

Luxembourg 27 - 29 September 1995.

6. 13th COSAC

Madrid 7 - 9 November 1995.

7. Visit to Europol HQ ( the Hague), The Finnish Parliament and Maastricht

10 - 14 December 1995.

8. Meeting of the Instutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament

Brussels 18 - 19 December 1995.

iii. Work in Progress by the Committee

(a)

The Joint Committee prepared a Report on the Role of the Oireachtas in the European Union in light of the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference. This Report looked at the present position of the Oireachtas vis a vis the European Union. It outlined the issues that have been indicated which will arise on the agenda of the Inter-Governmental Conference and view the major items of interest to Ireland.

This Report will endeavoured to suggest ways in which National Parliaments and particularly the Oireachtas might have an input into the Inter-Governmental Conference. It viewed its current role and considered how the Joint Committee might better act as a window and a guide to the issues which arise in the Union. It looked at some of the future prospects for the Union such as enlargement and suggest ways in which the Oireachtas can make the Union more open and accountable to the citizen.

(b)

The Joint Committee is examining as part of its on-going work Programme, selected Regulations made under the European Communities Acts 1972 to 1994.

(c)

During our current membership of the Troika the Joint Committee Chairman, in the absence of the Italian President of COSAC, presented a paper on COSAC at a conference on Role of Parliaments in Pan-European Construction which was held in Paris on the 28/29 March 1996.

iv. Attendance and Voting Record

The Joint Committee in plenary session on 20 occasions in 1995 (on two occassions in joint session with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs).

The Sub-Committee on Secondary Legislation meet on 3 occasions.

Formal votes were not taken on any occasion.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

PLENARY MEETINGS - ATTENDANCE RECORD

MEMBERS

Notes

P: Present - A: Absent

Substitute’s names are given opposite the names of Members for whom they substituted.

MEP’S

P: Present - A: Absent

v. Future Work Programme

The Joint Committee will seek information on the following topics from the relevant Ministers and Government Officials:

(a) Agriculture

- Beef disallowances

- Common Agricultural Policy and Enlargement

- Other CAP issues

(b) Enterprise and Employment

- Employment

- The Social Protocol

(c) Environment

- Control of Nuclear Waste

(d) Finance

- Economic and Monetary Union

- Employment

(e) Foreign Affairs

- White Paper on Foreign Policy

- Inter-Governmental Conference

- Enlargement

- Communicating Europe

(f) Justice

- Combatting Illicit Drugs

- Schengen

(g) Marine

- Common Fisheries Policy

(h) Tourism   Trade

- Tourism - IGC item

(i) Transport, Energy   Communications

- Trans European Networks

In addition, during the second half of 1996 when Ireland holds the presidency of the European Union, the Joint Committee will host the 15th Conference of European Affairs Committees [COSAC].

Because of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, the Chairman of the Joint Committee acts as a member of the Troika from 1 January 1996 to 31 July 1997. This, inter alia, involves meeting with other partners in the Troika to discuss agendas for the 14th, 15th and 16th COSACs.

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Michael Ferris T.D.

Chairman

July 1996